Stand for christmas-trees



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet ,1.

' T; B. OSBORNE STAND FOR CHRISTMAS TREES, 6:0. I

No. 397,305. Patented-Feb. 5, 1889.

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W 6 v w? u. PETERS. Pholo-Lhhoyzphen Waahinpofi. n c;

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T.B.OSBORNIE.

STAND FOR CHRISTMAS TREES, &c. No. 397,305. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. B. OSBORNE.

STAND FOR CHRISTMAS TREES, 850.

No. 397,305. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

(No Model.)

S 4 sheets-Sheet 4.

T. B. OSBORNE.

STAND FOR CHRISTMAS TREES, &c.

No. 397,305. Patented Feb. 5; 1889 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE ll. OSBORNE, OF PLAINFIELD, NE\V JERSEY.

STAND FOR CHRISTMAS-TREES, 84.0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,305, dated February 5, 1889.

Application filed November 22, 1888. Serial No. 291,532. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE B. OSBORNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stands for Christmas- Trees and other Articles, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a partof the same.

This invention relates to a tripod or stand for receiving and supporting in a perpendicular position a flag or tent pole, Christmas-tree, &c., or the pole or standard of a surveyinginstrument,photographic apparatus, or other articles.

The present invention, though capable of use in connection with many varieties of articles, will, for convenience, be hereinafter described as applied to the support of a Christmas-tree.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a tripod or stand in which the weight of the tree or standard will operate to secure it in the stand, which can be adjusted to re ceive trees of different diameters without changing materially its stability, and in which the parts shall be so constructed that it may be folded up or collapsed into convenient form for shipment or storage.

To these ends the invention consists of a stand having its legs connected at their converging ends in the form of a toggle-joint, said legs having also connected at their outer ends, by knuckle-joints or in any similar manner, inclined arms, 1110 free ends of which bear against and give lateral support to the tree, the proximity of their converging ends and the spread or contraction laterally of the legs of the stand depending upon the diameter of the supported tree.

The invention further consists in certain details of construction and certain modifications hereinafter referred to.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation, ofa tripod constructed according to my invention in its preferred form. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively similar views of said tripod in its closed or collapsed condition. Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating different forms of the invention, which will be hereinafter fully explained. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, and 4, respectively, illustrating another form of my invention.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be understood that A B 0 represent the legs of the tripod, which are connected loosely at their converging ends by being pivoted to plates (0 Z) c in the form of a togglejoint. To their upper sides, preferably near their outer ends, the legs A B C have pivotally connected to them inclined grippingarms D E F by means of knuckle-joints cl e f, said arms, for more perfect contact with the legs A B O and to prevent their movement beyond certain limits, having their connected ends mitered, as shown in Fig. 9..

The upper ends of the arms D E F converge toward a common center with the converging ends of the legs A B C, and when the supported tree G is in position bear against its sides and hold it steady and prevent its lateral movement. The converging ends of said arms are recessed, as shown at g h 2', for inclosing the tree and to provide perfect bearing-edges The converging ends of the legs A B C are also recessed, as shown at j 7t Z, for receiving the lower end of the tree.

The manner of using the stand thus constructed is as follows: The tree G, which may be of any diameter within quite wide limits, and which will usually have its lower end pointed or tapered, will be introduced between the arms D .E F, with its lower end within the space formed by the recesses j Z in the legs A B C. The converging ends of the arms D E F will be brought against its surface with their recesses g 714' inclosing the same. The weight of the tree will then exert a downward pressure upon the legs A B C, causing them to spread slightly and to force the converging ends of the arms D E F tightly against the tree. \Vhen the parts are in this position, the tree will be held in a perpendicular position, beingbraced in all directions by means of the arms D E F, which inclose it.

It will be noted that a stand thus constructed is capacitated to receive and support trees of any diameter within quite wide limits, and that any increase in diameter causes but a comparativel y slight contraction of the legs, which would diminish the stability of the stand.

\Vhen the stand is not in use, its parts may be folded together, as shown in Figs. 3 and -l, in convenient form for shipment or storage.

Although the stand which has been described embodies the invention in its most desirable form for general use, yet many modifications may be made in its construction without wholly departing from the invention. Two examples of modifications that may be made are illustrated in Figs. 5 and (5, which will now be described, as will also the construction illustrated in Figs. 7 to 9. t

In the construction illustrated in Fig. the legs A 1-; have their converging ends eonneetcd in the form of a toggle-joint, and the arms I) E F are connected to the legs by means of knuekle-joints (1 cf, as in the previous construct-ion. The arms I) E F, however, instead of resting upon the legs A B (l, extend past the ends of the legs and form feet, which are, in effect, part oi. the legs. In other respects the etimstrueti0n is the same as that before deseril'ied.

In the ctmstruction illustrated in Fig. 6 the relative positions of the legs A ll (J and arms l) E F are the same as in lllig. 5. Said legs and arms, however, instead of being con neeted by kmickle-joints, as in that construction, a re connected by means of pivots m, the converging ends of the arms D E F being connected by means of pivotal. plates limiting their outward movement and forming tulcra upon which the arms act so as to grip the tree when their lower ends are spread by the toggle formed by the legs. .lhese constructions, though well adapted for some uses, are not as desirable as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In liigs. 7, 8, and (l is illustrated a stand the same in construction as that illustratml in Figs. 1 to l, but provided with a lazy-tongs device located below the converging ends of the legs A I; U. This lazy-tongs device consists of a series of levers, q r s, pivotally connected to the legs A B C, respectively, at one end, and to each other at their converging ends, or to a ring, I, as shown, loeat ed immel diately beneath the converging ends of the legs A 1: C and arms I) E F. The provision of this 1azy-tongs device simplifies the adjustment 013' the stand, in that it permits the legs of the stand to be separated and properly adjusted for use upon the movementot' any two of said legs. The pivotal plates a 12 0 will in this case be of larger size or be connected to the legs A ll .(1 nearer to their converging ends than in Figs. 1 to 4, in order to provide a space between said converging ends suitieiently large to permit the passage of the ends of. the levers r s when the stand is folded uporeollapsed. 'When in its collapsed condition, the stand will assume the form shown in Fig. fl.

The stands which have been described may be of wood, or may, and in many eases preterably will, be of metal.

The stand will preitaably be (if the tri nal form shown; but it may consist of tour or more legs and arms, it in any case it should be desired.

hat I claim is-- 1. The coinbiinttion, with the legs A B pivoted to form a toggle-joint, of the grippingarms I) E F, pivoted to and converging above said legs, substantially described.

The combination,with the legs A B (l, pivoted to form a toggle-joint, of the gripping-arn'is l) E F, connected to said legs by knuckle-joints and converging above said legs, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the legs A 13 pivoted to form a toggle-joint, of the gripping-arms I) E F, connected to said legs by kn tickle-joints, and the lazy-ton device con sisting of the levers q -r s, pivoted to said legs and 'iivotallv connectedbeneath the converging ends 01: said legs, substantially as described. i

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presem-e oi two subscribing witnesses.

'IIIEUDORIC ll. OSBORNE.

\Vitnesses:

J'. J. KENNEDY, (two. It. 'lio'r'rs. 

